HEMP PRODUCTION PLANS UNDER THREAT

A scheme to create the largest hemp production plant in East Anglia
could go up in smoke in the New Year after major traffic and
countryside concerns.

Plans to convert agricultural buildings at Roudham, near Thetford,
into a UKP3.5m processing factory and storage warehouses have
already prompted mass opposition from local councillors and residents.

The application for seven barns at Camp Farm is now being
recommended for refusal next month because of its potential impact
on the local rural road network and conflict with planning policies.

The plant, which will be run by Essex based Hemcore, aims to process
and store 7,000 acres of hemp a year, which will be turned into
housing insulation, interior car panels, fuel and horse bedding. The
business would employ 14 people and would operate on a 24 hour basis
for an initial 240 days of the year.

But Breckland Council planning officers say that Roudham Road, the
farm's main access route, is "not suitable" for an increase in lorry
activity, which will be caused by the development.

In a report to councillors, Nick Moys principal planning officer,
said the operation would double daily HGV movements on a road
designated as a 'Quiet Lane' by Norfolk County Council and would
have a "noticeable" effect on the rural character of the area.

He added that the conver-sion of one barn into a hemp processing
plant would comply with farm diversi-fication policies, however, the
proposal for commercial storage and distribution at the six other
Camp Farm buildings was not suitable for the rural area.

Parish councils at Roudham, Larling, Bridgham, Harling and
Garboldisham and 140 letters from local residents have strongly
objected to the plans because of "unacceptable" increases in
traffic, the scale of the development, and the effect of the quiet
rural character of the area.

Mike Duckett, managing director of Hemcore, told the EDP last month
that East Anglia's strong agricultural base was the perfect place
for production of the environmentally friendly and multi use material.

"There has been a perception that with hemp it is always something
to do with drugs, but that is changing rapidly. It is getting much
more credibility as a profitable alternative break crop for farmers
growing cereals and vegetables," he said.

A Breckland Council plan-ning committee will discuss the application
on January 8.